The State Crime Branch police on Sunday began interrogating godman Sarathi Baba alias Santosh Raul after taking him on a three-day remand. The Baba was brought here to the police headquarters from the Choudwar jail under tight security as angry public is chasing him wherever he is taken.
Sources said a team of Crime Branch sleuths led by IO Alok Das is questioning Raul about his financial transactions in the presence of a chartered accountant (CA). The Crime Branch police has also raided the house of Raul's CA in Kendrapada and seized a computer hard disc from his house.
Raul is believed to have amassed huge fortunes and was leading a lavish lifestyle by swindling the donations made by the devotees to his ashram. His ashram was apparently getting huge grants from several MlAs and MPs under the local area development funds. He is known to be a frequent flier and stayed in luxury hotels accompanied by women devotees.
Following a massive public outcry, the Crime Branch had arrested Raul on Saturday after searching his ashram in Kendrapada and seizing huge cash, ornaments, property and bank documents, other valuables. The police also seized several bank accounts of the fake godman and of the charitable trust he runs under the name of his adopted son Satyam.
Raul and some of his associates, including his adopted son, are also named in the FIR that is registered under several sections of IPC, SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Arms Act and Religious Institutions (Misuse) Act.